# Les Enfers Tranquilles

- **Producer:** Michel Autran
- **Colour:** white
- **Type:** still
- **Grapes:** Chenin Blanc
- **Region:** Loire, France
- **Style:** Classic
- **Alcohol:** 13.5%
- **Average price:** €44
- **Contains sulphites:** Yes
- **When to drink:** Now or Later
- **Serving temperature:** 8–12 °C
- **Aromas & flavours:** pear, quince, stone fruit, lemon, biscuit, honey

## About this wine

Michel Autran's "Les Enfers Tranquilles" is a distinctive dry Chenin Blanc from France's Loire Valley. Autran, a former emergency room doctor, transitioned to winemaking after studying with top vignerons, releasing his first vintage in 2013. His philosophy centers on crafting dry Chenin Blancs with pure mineral precision. Unusually for the Vouvray appellation, Autran exclusively produces dry wines, allowing the unique terroir and vintage characteristics to shine through his minimal-intervention approach. The wine's intriguing name, "The Tranquil Hells," refers to the ancient tuffeau limestone caves where the wine is aged, adding a layer of historical charm to its identity.

## Interesting facts

- The wine's name, "Les Enfers Tranquilles" (The Tranquil Hells), refers to the ancient tuffeau limestone caves where it is aged.
- Michel Autran, the winemaker, made a career change from being an emergency room doctor to pursuing his passion for winemaking.
- Uniquely for the Vouvray appellation, Michel Autran exclusively produces dry Chenin Blanc wines.
- The wine is made from old vines, at least 50 years old, planted on a warm, south-facing slope.

## Food pairing

This dry Chenin Blanc, with its medium body, pronounced intensity, and lingering finish, offers a versatile pairing profile. Its inherent acidity and mineral precision cut through rich dishes like foie gras and creamy cheeses, while its ripe fruit and honeyed notes beautifully complement spicy Asian cuisine and fruit-based desserts. The wine's complexity and depth also make it an excellent match for roasted poultry.

## Wine making process

Les Enfers Tranquilles is crafted from old Chenin Blanc vines, at least 50 years old, situated on a warm, south-facing slope. Viticulture follows a minimal-intervention philosophy, guided by the lunar calendar, though the producer does not identify as biodynamic. A rigorous selection process during harvest ensures that any botrytis-affected grapes are discarded. Fermentation takes place in stainless steel, preserving the purity of the fruit. The wine then undergoes maturation on its fine lees, with half of this period spent in stainless steel and the other half in the ancient tuffeau limestone caves that lend the wine its name.